I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Jim Thompson Inscribed thus:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Do you want to build your own ?

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

"Jim Thompson" /Snicker
wrote in message ...
I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Harbor freight.
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...?keyword=brake

Grizzly tool
http://grizzly.com/products/searchresults.aspx?q=brake

Ain't American made... but few things are these days.
I have their hand pumped hydraulic wood splitter. Works very well and lots
simpler when working with knotty wood that won't split nicely with a maul.



Bob Oppenheimer

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:34:37 -0500, Oppie wrote:

"Jim Thompson" /Snicker
wrote in message ...
I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Harbor freight.
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...?keyword=brake

Grizzly tool
http://grizzly.com/products/searchresults.aspx?q=brake

Ain't American made... but few things are these days.

Few consumer items that are American made -- but the machines that made
the machines that made those brakes probably are (or German, etc). At
least for now.

Hopefully when they reach wage parity with us we'll still remember how to
make stuff. Maybe we'll even realize the foolishness of letting our
union help price us out of the world market.

Or we can all go into prostitution, the ultimate service industry.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Try Eastwood. They cater to automotive restoration/customizers but
they do (last time I checked) have small brakes. I have an 18" one,
does light steel and aluminum, but nothing really heavy is possible.

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:36:05 -0500, PeterD wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Try Eastwood. They cater to automotive restoration/customizers but
they do (last time I checked) have small brakes. I have an 18" one,
does light steel and aluminum, but nothing really heavy is possible.

Maybe I need to find someone to consult that has a machine shop ;-)
My 10 years at GenRad Portable Products were a joy for G-jobs... go
into a full-fledged machine shop after hours... punch presses, lathes,
band saw, drill press, milling machine, fancy brake with moveable
shoes... "pants wetting" ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism properly!

Jim Thompson wrote:
I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Someone mentioned the cheap Harbor Freight brake:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39103

I've used that. I can't get precision with it.
For example, if all I want is a 90 degree bend twice in
a sheet of metal to get a U shape I can do it, but I
can't get the legs of the U to be precisely the same length,
except by accident.

| |
| |
| |
| |
---------

Of course there's a skill factor, and I'll rate mine at 0 with
this tool, so it is quite possible you might have better results.
And, for a quick and easy L bend in light stuff where ~ +/- 1/8"
doesn't matter, it's fine.

Ed

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:57:44 -0500, Spehro Pefhany
wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Bob already recommended the places I would suggest looking for fine
mainland Chinese tools... of course HF is local to you and you can go
in and have a gander at the merchandise and maybe pick out a
relatively good one.
[SNIP]

Sheeesh! I didn't know they were right here under my nose ;-) I'll
venture out Black Canyon after the holidays... that'd be an unpleasant
drive during the shopping season :-(

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism properly!

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:08:40 -0500, ehsjr
wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Someone mentioned the cheap Harbor Freight brake:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39103

I've used that. I can't get precision with it.
For example, if all I want is a 90 degree bend twice in
a sheet of metal to get a U shape I can do it, but I
can't get the legs of the U to be precisely the same length,
except by accident.

| |
| |
| |
| |
---------

Of course there's a skill factor, and I'll rate mine at 0 with
this tool, so it is quite possible you might have better results.
And, for a quick and easy L bend in light stuff where ~ +/- 1/8"
doesn't matter, it's fine.

Ed

I'm likely to go with something with "fingers" and self-clamping.

Now that Spehro pointed out that Harbor freight is right here under my
nose I'll venture forth and "feel" the merchandise ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism properly!

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:54:10 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:36:05 -0500, PeterD wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Try Eastwood. They cater to automotive restoration/customizers but
they do (last time I checked) have small brakes. I have an 18" one,
does light steel and aluminum, but nothing really heavy is possible.

Maybe I need to find someone to consult that has a machine shop ;-)
My 10 years at GenRad Portable Products were a joy for G-jobs... go
into a full-fledged machine shop after hours... punch presses, lathes,
band saw, drill press, milling machine, fancy brake with moveable
shoes... "pants wetting" ;-)

...Jim Thompson


Jim
See http://www.valley-metal.org for the Phoenix area metal and
model workers group. They also have a Yahoo group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/valleymetal/

Dave Foreman
Tucson

"Jim Thompson" /Snicker
wrote in message ...

.... "pants wetting" ;-)

...Jim Thompson

At your age, that's entirely possible

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:54:10 -0700, Jim Thompson /Snicker wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:36:05 -0500, PeterD wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Try Eastwood. They cater to automotive restoration/customizers but
they do (last time I checked) have small brakes. I have an 18" one,
does light steel and aluminum, but nothing really heavy is possible.

Maybe I need to find someone to consult that has a machine shop ;-)
My 10 years at GenRad Portable Products were a joy for G-jobs... go
into a full-fledged machine shop after hours... punch presses, lathes,
band saw, drill press, milling machine, fancy brake with moveable
shoes... "pants wetting" ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Now this helps me understand how blessed my high school years were,
I had all of that plus the equivalents for wood shop (including a 48
inch planer) and welding (gas/electric-rod/GMAW&GTAW) available if
i took those courses, and drafting with PMP arms. In the 1960s.
Oops, i don't think the HS had punch presses.

On Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:40:11 -0800,
wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:54:10 -0700, Jim Thompson /Snicker wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:36:05 -0500, PeterD wrote:

On Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:34:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
/Snicker wrote:

I need a CHEAP sheet metal brake for some hobby projects.

Up to 24" would be nice.

Anyone have experiences/recommendations?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

Try Eastwood. They cater to automotive restoration/customizers but
they do (last time I checked) have small brakes. I have an 18" one,
does light steel and aluminum, but nothing really heavy is possible.

Maybe I need to find someone to consult that has a machine shop ;-)
My 10 years at GenRad Portable Products were a joy for G-jobs... go
into a full-fledged machine shop after hours... punch presses, lathes,
band saw, drill press, milling machine, fancy brake with moveable
shoes... "pants wetting" ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Now this helps me understand how blessed my high school years were,
I had all of that plus the equivalents for wood shop (including a 48
inch planer) and welding (gas/electric-rod/GMAW&GTAW) available if
i took those courses, and drafting with PMP arms. In the 1960s.
Oops, i don't think the HS had punch presses.

Yep, Back when I was in junior high school (middle school for you
young bucks)... 1952-1955, males were required to take "shop":
drafting (*), wood working, and sheet metal. Females had to take home
economics ;-)

My high school was divided into three sections: college preparatory,
technical (you name it... electrician training, aircraft maintenance,
machine shop, welding, drafting...), and distributive education
(secretaries, store clerks, etc.)

All now prohibited under political correctness.

This was in the "backward" state of West Virginia ;-)

(*) I couldn't fit any high school shop into my college prep schedule,
so I took drafting in the summer of 1955. Entered the Southern WV
Craftsmen's Fair... and won ALL categories in drafting ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism responsibly!

"Jim Thompson" /Snicker wrote
in message ...
Yep, Back when I was in junior high school (middle school for you
young bucks)... 1952-1955, males were required to take "shop":
drafting (*), wood working, and sheet metal. Females had to take home
economics ;-)

My high school was divided into three sections: college preparatory,
technical (you name it... electrician training, aircraft maintenance,
machine shop, welding, drafting...), and distributive education
(secretaries, store clerks, etc.)

All now prohibited under political correctness.

I don't think even you'd support your own daughters having been forced to take
home ec. and missing out on the shop classes, would you? Gender
discrimination here is ridiculous.

I am OK with, e.g., GPA requirements for certain classes though, just as
there's usually some (really low!) GPA requirements for sports.

Of course, very few of the classes you mention above are even available
anymore. Liability killed many of them, and the "everyone must go to college
and become a 'professional' and not work at something as 'menial' as welding"
mentality of the '80s onward killed most of the rest.

(*) I couldn't fit any high school shop into my college prep schedule,
so I took drafting in the summer of 1955. Entered the Southern WV
Craftsmen's Fair... and won ALL categories in drafting ;-)

You should scan in and post your old drawings if you have'em!

---Joel

On Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:28:34 -0800, "Joel Koltner"
wrote:

"Jim Thompson" /Snicker wrote
in message ...
Yep, Back when I was in junior high school (middle school for you
young bucks)... 1952-1955, males were required to take "shop":
drafting (*), wood working, and sheet metal. Females had to take home
economics ;-)

My high school was divided into three sections: college preparatory,
technical (you name it... electrician training, aircraft maintenance,
machine shop, welding, drafting...), and distributive education
(secretaries, store clerks, etc.)

All now prohibited under political correctness.

I don't think even you'd support your own daughters having been forced to take
home ec. and missing out on the shop classes, would you? Gender
discrimination here is ridiculous.

Nope. Considering that one of my daughters is a chemist and the other
is a politician.

But can anyone take "shop" in high school anymore? The "education"
system seems to think everyone needs to go to college :-(


I am OK with, e.g., GPA requirements for certain classes though, just as
there's usually some (really low!) GPA requirements for sports.

Of course, very few of the classes you mention above are even available
anymore. Liability killed many of them, and the "everyone must go to college
and become a 'professional' and not work at something as 'menial' as welding"
mentality of the '80s onward killed most of the rest.

I should learn to read ahead ;-)


(*) I couldn't fit any high school shop into my college prep schedule,
so I took drafting in the summer of 1955. Entered the Southern WV
Craftsmen's Fair... and won ALL categories in drafting ;-)

You should scan in and post your old drawings if you have'em!

---Joel

I think I still have them... if I can just remember where ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Help save the environment!
Please dispose of socialism responsibly!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=39103

I've used that. I can't get precision with it.
For example, if all I want is a 90 degree bend twice in
a sheet of metal to get a U shape I can do it, but I
can't get the legs of the U to be precisely the same length,
except by accident.

| |
| |
| |
| |
---------

Of course there's a skill factor, and I'll rate mine at 0 with
this tool, so it is quite possible you might have better results.
And, for a quick and easy L bend in light stuff where ~ +/- 1/8"
doesn't matter, it's fine.

Ed

I'm likely to go with something with "fingers" and self-clamping.

Now that Spehro pointed out that Harbor freight is right here under my
nose I'll venture forth and "feel" the merchandise ;-)

...Jim Thompson
I buy a lot from Harbor Freight, especially since we got a local
store.

Bear in mind:
Price is their big selling point. Sometimes it is a work-in progress
and you will need to rework a bit for it to meet your needs!

If you buy something like a metal lathe, a complete teardown will be
worth the effort to clean up, lubricate and understand the limitations
of the equipment. However, you will then understand what a bargain
you have!

John Ferrell W8CCW